Mick's First Grow Report (Critical Auto, FFOF, Spider-Farmer, Dr. Earth)

I've started my very first official grow.

About Me:
very green grower, no experience, high appetite for learning
Environment:
Spider Farmer 1000 grow tent kit (lights, tent, inline air, etc.)
Set up in old bathroom with tiny space heater maintaining heat at 75%, mini 500ml humidifier keeping humidity 40-50%
Leaving lights on 18 hour schedule throughout the grow (I have some peppers and herbs in there too I'm starting for my spring garden)
Medium:
Fox Farm Ocean Forest mixed with Vigo Organic Perlite (70/30) in five gallon Rain Science grow bag
Plan:
KISS Organic Grow primarily following Budzbuddha's FFOF auto thread.
As it's my first grow I want to start simple and resist the temptation to over-love my first child.
Seed:
Critical Auto (I'm assuming Fast Buds - it was a free seed in an order from North Atlantic Seed Co)

Germination:
12/23/20 - Put seed 1/4" in a Jiffy peat pod with netting removed and in a hole in the FFOF/Perlite, wetted in and glass bowl covered.



Seed sprouted on 12/26/2020. Removed glass bowl and watering once a day just a little via spray bottle.

I will post a weekly update from seed sprout date.

Date: 1/2/21 (End of Week 1)

This first week all I did was water once daily with a 2 liter garden hand sprayer.
Also there were some fungus gnats in my tent. I am not saying specifically they came from the FFOF as I do have a few small plants in there from my deck.
Actions:
I added a tablespoon of mosquito bits to my watering bucket which I use for all the plants,
and a yellow fly catcher for the adults. All fungus gnats gone within a few days. Yeah!
I also covered the top of my soil with a little sand to prevent future infestation.
(first sign of over-loving > this is going to make watering in dry organic fertilizer more difficult later)

Water:
Tap water. Not pH balanced (looks like my tap water is basic over pH 7 but I need to calibrate my cheap pH meter to verify).
I am keeping a 5 gallon bucket of tap water by my tent with a cheap aquarium pump and stone I picked up at Walmart just to de-chlorinate.

Date: 1/9/21 (End of Week 2)

Once a day watering continued from hand sprayer.
Environment is staying around 75F/50% humidity.
Air King clip fan is running but not inline filter fan yet.
I did move the light down to 30" over the plant set at 100% on 1/4.
Cheap light meter says it 700ppfd.

Date: 1/16/21 (End of Week 3)

Actions:

• Turned on the inline filter fan earlier this week to a medium level to start getting better air exchange.
• Temp is maintaining at 75F +/- 3.
• Humidity dropped and I'm running that tiny Humidifier 24/7 now just to keep it at 40% +/- 3.
• Watering every other day alternating between bottom and top watering.
• Plant is growing so I moved the light up a bit today. It's at 24" over the top of the plant now. Cheap light meter says about 900 ppfd.
• Also one night last week I added a teaspoon of Epsom Salt to my sprayer and gave all the plants a healthy foilage spray.
• Still haven't bothered finding ph of water.
• Today I top dressed 2 tablespoons of Dr earth organic 4-6-3 tomato herb fertilizer and watered it in. I chose this one because I like it has mycos in it and calcium. Trying to avoid adding calmag.
• Also did my very first ever LST tie down.

Date: 1/23/21 (End of Week 4)

Actions:

• Turned up the inline filter fan this week to a higher level to start getting better air exchange.
• Temp is maintaining at high 70's
• Struggling to keep Humidity At 40%
• Plant is growing fast, watering most days, alot of LST work.
• Also one night last week I added a teaspoon of Epsom Salt to my sprayer and gave all the plants a healthy foilage spray.
• Still haven't bothered finding ph of water.
• Today I top dressed 3 tablespoons of Dr earth organic 4-6-3 tomato herb fertilizer and 5 tbsp bud and bloom 3-9-4.
• She looks very healthy to my untrained eye.
• This week I'm going to set up a separate tent to get my peppers out of this one.

Looking really good. How's the fungus knats issue coming along ? I'm thinking about doing playsand but I'm not sure how difficult it'll make feeding the plants.

Green Refuge said:

Looking really good. How's the fungus knats issue coming along ? I'm thinking about doing playsand but I'm not sure how difficult it'll make feeding the plants.

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I have no fungus gnats at all. But I think they were eradicated with the mosquito bits. I don't know that I will use sand on my next grow. Because you are right - It makes scratching in the top dressing a bit harder.

Date: 1/31/21 (End of Week 5)
RH: 35-50%
Temp: 73-78F

Notes:

• Nothing much but watering this week.
• One night did an epsom salt foilage spray.
• Little humidifier died and I revived it with a vinegar cleaning.
• I am struggling to keep the canopy down. Leader stalk is stretching up.
• Still haven't bothered finding ph of water.
• Adjusted the light higher.
• Moved the peppers out to a new space.
• She seems more stretched out then pictures I see from grows on here and the leaves thinner.

I would love some feedback on how she looks as this is my first grow.

Date: 2/6/21 (End of Week 6)
RH: 40-45%
Temp: 72-75F

Notes:

• Another week of just watering.
• One night did an epsom salt foilage spray.
• Temp and humidity staying level.
• Seems to have stopped stretching.
• Still haven't bothered finding ph of water.
• I'm going to be out of town for 8 days in a week which concerns me. So I'm going to try a test with a blumat xl for auto watering. I'll watch it this week.
• I added a tbsp of Dr earth bloom 3-9-4 just to be safe since I'll be gone.

Amazing that is your first grow!

anexgrower said:

Amazing that is your first grow!

Click to expand...

Thank you. Honestly if its successful the credit belongs to all of you. It's from reading and learning from your threads on what works. Particularly those who focus on Organic KISS grows.
I like the concept of feeding the soil that I learned here and not over adjusting through constant monitoring of ph, ppm, etc. I look forward to advice on minor changes for my next grow with two plants.
At this point I know that just starting with basic FFOF soil & perlite, bubbled tap water, quality led lights, and 2 Dr Earth dry amendments the plant is perfectly happy. No obvious nutrient deficiency or burn, no signs of any issues. Next time I don't plan on much change... More practice on my LST and maybe add a couple Blackstrap molasses feeds to see its effect.

Date: 2/13/21 (End of Week 7)
RH: 40-45%
Temp: 72-75F

Notes:

• One night did an epsom salt foilage spray.
• This week I did nearly nothing.
• Checked on it her everyday to make sure the blumat xl classic water feeders were working - and they were.
• Temp and humidity staying level.
• Gave her a deep water today- top and bottom since I'm leaving for a week.
• Nervous about leaving her but she looks fine and dandy.

Looks amazing I’m trying to get all of my info for a simple first grow, I’m gonna start with planting as you did gonna use the same mix and the dry amendments seem best in my eyes and I need it simple let me know how much you yield man great work

Wow, that looks like a really good plant, I’ve never achieved that much growth in 6 weeks. Did you say you were using a 1000w light? Maybe I need to beef up my light situation

Date: 2/20/21 (End of Week 8 )
RH: 25%
Temp: 80F
Notes:

• I was out of town all week, so I literally did nothing.
• I kept an eye on her from my Wyze cam.
• Temp got hot. More like 80F from where it normally stays around 75F.
• It got dry. No humidifier running humidity got down To 25%.
• Water by Blumat XL classic did OK..seems like 1/2 gallon of water was fed to the plant over 8 days. Honestly I feel that is a little low. when I got back I gave her a deep water and she was happy about that.
• Did see some yellowing of fan leaves particularly big ones. I don’t believe it’s nutrient deficiency but lack of water and humidity. I am aerating a little worm casings/molasses tea tonight just to make sure she’s good.
• Did a minor defoliation of some of the dead leaves.
• 
  

Pdotdippidydabs said:

Looks amazing I’m trying to get all of my info for a simple first grow, I’m gonna start with planting as you did gonna use the same mix and the dry amendments seem best in my eyes and I need it simple let me know how much you yield man great work

Click to expand...

Thank you. To be clear, I am a beginner. A lot of people make specific soil mixes that I am sure may be better and track pH and ppm. I am trying to avoid adding too many variables and just find a base formula that works without too much hassle. I plan to tweak it for each new grow sticking to organic grows.

Right now I'm thinking:
1. FFOF/Perlite (70/30) mix in 5 gallon rain science bag (I like them)
2. 4 tbsp of 4-6-3 Dr Earth Tomato at end of week 4
3. 4 tbsp of 3-9-4 Dr Earth Bloom at end of week 5 and 2 tbsp at end of week 7
5. Epsom foilage spray at the end of week 3, 4, & 5
6. Worm Casing/Molasses tea at the end of week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
7. Trying to keep environment temp 72-78F & Humidity 45-55%

Water sticking to just tap bubbling in a 5 gallon bucket for feeding (with 1 tbsp of Mosquito bits in the bucket).
Primarily the only change I'm planning for next grow is adding the tea feed every two weeks to see effects.

Bellaphant said:

Wow, that looks like a really good plant, I’ve never achieved that much growth in 6 weeks. Did you say you were using a 1000w light? Maybe I need to beef up my light situation

Click to expand...

Yes Spider Farmer 1000

MickeyFins said:

Thank you. To be clear, I am a beginner. A lot of people make specific soil mixes that I am sure may be better and track pH and ppm. I am trying to avoid adding too many variables and just find a base formula that works without too much hassle. I plan to tweak it for each new grow sticking to organic grows.

Right now I'm thinking:
1. FFOF/Perlite (70/30) mix in 5 gallon rain science bag (I like them)
2. 4 tbsp of 4-6-3 Dr Earth Tomato at end of week 4
3. 4 tbsp of 3-9-4 Dr Earth Bloom at end of week 5 and 2 tbsp at end of week 7
5. Epsom foilage spray at the end of week 3, 4, & 5
6. Worm Casing/Molasses tea at the end of week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
7. Trying to keep environment temp 72-78F & Humidity 45-55%

Water sticking to just tap bubbling in a 5 gallon bucket for feeding (with 1 tbsp of Mosquito bits in the bucket).
Primarily the only change I'm planning for next grow is adding the tea feed every two weeks to see effects.

Click to expand...

I will do exactly that when I’m up to bat haha I agree less variables less room for mistake. Is number 6 mandatory? I was planning on just going with the ffof and the dr earth tomato and bloom and maybe try the whole molasses and worm casting thing on my second run or do you think it’s very much needed?

Pdotdippidydabs said:

I will do exactly that when I’m up to bat haha I agree less variables less room for mistake. Is number 6 mandatory? I was planning on just going with the ffof and the dr earth tomato and bloom and maybe try the whole molasses and worm casting thing on my second run or do you think it’s very much needed?

Click to expand...

Plants love worm castings and molasses, especially if you have a healthy living soil. Remember, only organic non sulfured molasses. You can get a gallon on amazon for under $20.

Frankly Dankly said:

Plants love worm castings and molasses, especially if you have a healthy living soil. Remember, only organic non sulfured molasses. You can get a gallon on amazon for under $20.

Click to expand...

Good to know thanks what worm castings would you recommend?